The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) promotes coordination and cooperation among federal departments and agencies conducting disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research including programs relating to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design. It is chaired by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research and includes 17 statutory member agencies.

ICDR Publishes Draft Government Wide Strategic Plan for Public Comment

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Public Law 113-128) requires the ICDR to develop a comprehensive government wide strategic plan for disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research. The current draft plan is the culmination of a year-long effort to gain consensus on its guiding principles for success and methodologically to produce a document that capitalizes on potential interagency synergies and reflects the priorities of stakeholders.

All responses to the public comment will be summarized and posted on the ICDR website, and all comments will be a matter of public record. Comments must be received on or before October 26, 2016.

ICDR Launches New Website

On September 14, 2016, the ICDR released a newly redesigned website: www.icdr.acl.gov. The new design increases transparency, and enhances the ICDR’s mission to promote coordination and cooperation among federal departments and agencies conducting disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research programs including programs relating to assistive technology research, and research that incorporates the principles of universal design.

Committee and working group information is streamlined and easy to access. Each group has its own page with a listing of leadership, upcoming meetings, and relevant documents categorized by meeting date. In addition, anyone can share news items and relevant disability research resources through the new “Info Share” tool. Agencies can publicize their reports, events, and activities through this feature, providing another venue to inform ICDR’s membership and the public.

The redesign also caters to those new to the disability research field. The “Federal Disability Research Resources” tab provides detailed insight on agencies involved in disability research efforts, relevant interagency activities, information portals, and news streams related to federally funded research and disability data.

The Interagency Committee on Disability Research is maintained by New Editions Consulting, Inc. and funded through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL), under Contract No. ED-OSE-12-C-0054. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of HHS/ACL/NIDILRR, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.